Facts: the social worker completed an application for compulsory admission stating that the claimant’s nearest relative was unknown, when the social worker knew that the claimants nearest relative was his mother, had sought to contact her (unsuccessfully) and there were still several hours left in which to make continued efforts to make contact before the claimant’s existing detention expired.

Judgment: Wyn Williams J granted habeas corpus on the basis that the decision by the social worker had been Wednesbury unreasonable.